Knitting machine



Jan. 21, 1936. V w. LARKIN Re.19,8 27

KNITTING MACHINE Original Filed April 6, 1927 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Evve rJan. 21, 1936. w. LARKIN Re. 19,827

KNITTING MACHINE Original Filed April 6. 1927 2 Shets-Sheet 2 ReissuedJan. 21, 1936 V KNITTING MACHINE Walter Larkin, Norri'stown, Pa.,assignor to Fidelity Machine Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation ofDelaware Original application April 6, 1927, Serial No.

Divided and application October 2,

1930, Serial No. 485,977. Patent No. 1,887,413, dated November 8, 1932.This application for reissue November 6, 1934, Serial No. 751,764

16 Claims.

This invention relates to circular rib knitting machines, andparticularly to actuating means for the welt mechanismof the machine.

The present application constitutes a division of my co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 181,507, filed April 6, 1927, Patent No.1,841,249.

The construction and operation of the mechanism forming the subjectmatter of the present application will be fully disclosed hereinafter,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. l is a sectional elevation of sufllcient of a rib knitting machineto illustrate my invention as applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 22, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly in section, of the welt-forming mechanism,the section being taken on the line 33, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44, Fig. l, and showing thewelt-forming mechanism in inverted plan; and

Fig. 5 illustrates a detail of the mechanism.

Referring to the drawings:

The rib knitting machine comprises a bed plate I, on the underside ofwhich is suitably mounted a hollow annular cylinder supporting member 2.The cylinder supporting member 2 comprises a substantially circularvertical wall 3, which is secured to the bed plate I by means of screws4, and a horizontal base 5, which is provided with a circular opening 6.A base ring I is mounted on the horizontal base 5 within the cylindersupporting member 2, and has a depending flange 8 which lies within thecircular opening 6, functioning to maintain the said ring in axialalignment with the member 2. The base ring 1 is secured to the base 5 bymeans of screws 9, and is provided with an inwardly projecting circularflange I0, having a circular opening I formed therein, which axiallyaligns with the opening 6 of the member 2. A cylinder supporting ring I2flts within the opening I I, in the base ring I, and is provided with anoutwardly projecting flange I3 which underlies the flange III of thebase ring 1 and is secured thereto by screws I4. The cylinder ring I2 isalso provided with a second inwardly projecting flange I5 in the top ofwhich is formed a circular depression I6. The base of the needlecylinder 11 flts within the depression I6, and is secured to thecylinder ring l2 by means of screws I8. The cylinder II, as usual, ishollow and is provided on its outer face with vertical grooves I9 forthe reception of the cylinder knitting needles 20. Thus it will be seenthat through the mechanism just described the cylinder I1 isnon-rotatably supported on the bed plate I of the machine.

The bed plate I is provided with a circular opening 2| within which isrotatably mounted a cylinder cam plate 22. The usual form of splitcylinder cam ring 23 is attached to the cam plate 22, in the usualmanner, and is adapted, with the said carnplate 22, to be rotated and inaxial alignment with the cylinder I1, for the purpose of operating thecylinder needles 20. The cam plate 22 is vertically and rotatablysupported by and on the base ring 1, and is circularly guided by a gearring 24 which surrounds the base ring I and is secured to the cylindercam plate 22 by means of screws 25. The gear ring 24 lies within thehollow member 2, and projects under the bed plate I around the opening2| formed therein.

The gear ring 24 is operatively attached to the cylinder cam plate 22 bymeans of screws 25. Thus the cylinder cam plate is rotatably mountedwithin the opening 2| of the bed plate I, but is held against verticalaxial movement by the gear ring 24 underlying said bed plate.

The machine is provided with a needle dial 40 secured to the lower end01' and non-rotatably supported oy a stationary dial post 38.

The dial plate 40 is provided with the usual radially disposed grooves4| for the reception of the dial needles 42, each of which is adapted tobe projected radially between each adjacent pair of cylinder needles 20,in the usual manner.

A dial cam plate 45 is rotatably mounted above the dial plate 40, and isprovided with the usual dial cams 43 and dial needle switch 44 for theoperation of the dial needles 42. The dial cam plate 45 is secured tothe lower end of tubular shaft 46 which is axially aligned with andrevolves around the stationary dial post 38.

The dial cam 45 and cylinder cam ring 23 are adapted to be rotated inunison by means forming no part of the present invention per se.

Synchronous rotation of the cylinder cam plate 22, which carries the camring 23, and the dial cam plate 45, with its associated dial needlecams, will operate the dial and cylinder needles in the usual manner toform circular knit ribbed foundation fabric when a thread is properlyfed thereto.

In view of the fact that the particular class of goods for which thismachine is adapted is stocking tops, I provide the machine withweltforming mechanism which comprises means for operating the needleswitch 44 on the dial cam plate 45. As there is no invention in the weltitself, specific reference thereto will be omitted, the descriptionbeing limited to the apparatus that controls the dial needle switchwhich, together with the usual welt-forming operation of the 'Eylinderneedles, efiec'ts -the formation or a conventional form of welt.

The dial needle switch 44 is pivoted at 205 to the underside of the dialcam plate 45 and is provided with a post 206 which projects through aslot 201 formed in the cam plate 45. The switch is movable to threedifferent positions, in one 01 which the post 206 occupies a position atone end of the slot 201, in another the post occupies a position midwaybetween the extreme ends of the slot and in the third position the post200 occupies a position at the extreme opposite end of the slot 201. Aspring-pressed pointed plunger 200 holds the post in any one of thethree positions to which it may be moved, hearing against the oppositesides of the post when "in the extreme positions and the point 'of theplfin'ger entering a depression 209 in the post 206 when it is in itsmid position, as clearly shown in Pig. 3. The dial switch 44 is adaptedto be operated 'b'y 'means oi a'pair of superposed operating bars l-f0,2' which are slidably mounted in a stationary guide member 2I2. Theslide bar 210 carries a grooved segmental member 2l3 into the ar'cuategroove 2l4 of which the upper end 'oi'the post 200 is adapted to passwhen the dial plate '45 rotates. Each of the slide bars M0 and 2 isprovided with a pin 2'5, each of 'which is adaptedto'enter an'aperture 216 formed in each side of a 'ring2l6a which pivots around the 'tiibularshaft "46, see Fig. 2, so that when one of the "slidefbars is moved inone direction the other slide bar will be 'moved in the oppositedire'ction'and the switch post 206 being at fsuchtime within'thegroove-214 in themember -lljfiwhi'eh is'attached'to one of the-slidebars, tvillbe moved to carry-the switch -44 inone of its positio'ns, asthe case may be.

The slide bars -2l0'and =2l I are each engaged at one'of their ends'by-a lever 2l1-and2l8 respecnveiy, which are respectively secured-tothe upper ends er oscillating shafts 2 Hand-220, pivotally mounted inand projecting vertically *trom the cylinder ca'm ring 23. These twoshafts are'operatively-connected at'their opposite ends by gears 22land222 and are 'each provided with a second arm 223'and 224-adjacent-thesaid gears. The lever-223 is provided with an underout 228'whichproduces'in effect alever of two 'difierent'lengths. Thelevers 223, 224and the unuereum'zs are adapted to'be engaged by the usual 'iorm ofbob-disc-226 'which is vertically --slidably mounted in the-bed plate Iof the-machine a'djacentth'e periphery of the cylinder cam plate22'andpermitted-to rotatefreelyabout its -ownaxis.

The bob-disc 226 is adapted to be-movedto various *elevations, *bymechanism forming no part of the-present invention-per se, for-thepurpose of'engaging the levers-223, 224,225, to 'eh'ect the positioningofthe dial needle-switch 44 correctiy'and' at the proper times in thevarious positions'necessary'to 'guide the dial needles in the way toform the regular welt edge anddividin; course commonly-produced oncircular rib knitting machines.

when the'mechanism'above described is used witha rib knitting machine"equipped with needle-wrapping fingers such as disclosed in the'parentPatent "No. 1,841,249, -dated January 12,

1932, of which Patent No. 1,847,413, dated November 8, 1932, is adivision, the ends of the stationary operating bars 2I0, 2, which areengaged by the rotary levers 2H and 2I0 respectively project through thestationary circle of fingers 128 which surrounds the rotary dial camplate 45, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, whereby, at such time as the switchpost 206 is passing through the groove 2I4 of the segmental member 2I3,which is carried by the slide bar 2I0, the outer ends of the slide bars2I0 and 2H register with the levers 2" and 2| 8 respectively so that anyrelative oscillation of these levers, occurring at such time, istransmitted from the outside to the inside of the stationary circle offingers to the rotating switch post 206, by the rotating levers 2l1, 2"!through the non-rotating slide bars 210, 2| I.

I claim:

1. In a circular rib knitting machine, the combination, with the dialcam of saidmachine which includes 'a needle switch, 01' an actuatingelementfor s'aid switch normally disconnected from said switch, meansfor operativelyvinterlocking said switch and said actuating :elementthroughout a predetermined angle of acycle of continuous relativerotation between the said cam and the-said switch-actuating element, andmeans for operating said actuating element to 'op'er'atethe switchrelative to the cam during the a said period of interlock betweentheswitch and the actuating element therefor.

2. In a circular rib knitting machine, the combination, with the rotarydial'cam of said machine which includes a'needle switch, oi anonrotatable actuating element for said switchnormally disconnected fromsaidswitch, means'for operatively interlocking said switch and saidactuating element throughout a predetermined angle of a cycle ofcontinuous relative rotation between 'the said cam and the saidswitchactuating element, and means rotatable'in unison with-said dialcam and adapted to engage said actuating element during the said periodof interlock for operating said actuating element to -operate the switchrelative to the cam during the saidperiod oi interlock between theswitch and the actuating element therefor.

=3. In a-circu'lar rib knitting'machine, the combination with the rotarycylinder cam ring and.

the'rotary dial cam of said machine, said dial cam including a needleswitch,of a non-rotatable actuating'element for said switch normallydisconnected from said switch, means for opera- "tively'inte'rlockingsaid switch'and said 'actuating element throughout a predetermined angle-oi relative 'rotationbetween'the dial cam and the switch'actuatingelement, means'carried by the said rotary cylinder cam ring adapted toengages'aid actuating element-for operation of said switch "during thesaid period of interlock act'uat'in'g "element during said period ofinterlock.

'4. In a circular'rib' knitting machine, the com- 'hiriation withthedial cam of said machine whichincludes aneedleswitch element, 01 anactuating element for and'normally disconnected from said switchelement, a projection on one 'oi said'-elements,"'an open jaw on theother of said elements adapted to receive and interlock.

' with the said projection throughout a predetermined angle of a cycleor continuous rotation of one of said elements relative to the other orsaid elements about an axis common to both of said elements, and meansfor operating said actuating element to efiect operation of said switchelement during said period of interlock between the projection and theopen jaw.

5. In a circular rib knitting machine, the combination with the dial camof said machine which includes a needle switch element, of an actuatingelement for and normally disconnected from said switch element, aprojection on one of said elements, an open jaw on the other of saidelements adapted to receive and interlock with the said projectionthroughout a predetermined angle of a cycle of rotation of one of saidelements relative to the other of said elements about an axis common toboth of said elements, a reversing member for and operatively connectedto said actuating element, and means adapted to selectively engage saidactuating element or said reversing member to move said switch intopredetermined relation to said cam during said period or interlockbetween the projection and the open jaw.

6. In a circular rib knitting machine, the combination with the dial camof said machine which includes a needle switch element, of an actuatingelement for and normally disconnected from said switch element, aprojection on one of said elements, an open jaw on the other of saidelements adapted to receive the said projection throughout apredetermined angle of a cycle of rotation of one of said elementsrelative to the other of said elements about an axis common to both ofsaid elements, a reversing member for said actuating member movablesubstantially parallel to said actuating member, a lever element pivotedwith respect to said cam at a point intermediate the actuating elementand its reversing member and operatively connected at the opposite sidesof its fulcrum to said actuating element and said reversing memberrespectively, and means adapted to selectively engage said actuatingelement or said reversing member to move said switch into predeterminedrelation to said cam during said period of interconnection.

7. In a circular rib knitting machine, the combination with the dial camof said machine which includes a needle switch element, of .an actuatingelement for and normally disconnected from said switch element, aprojection on one of said elements, an open jaw on the other of saidelements adapted to receive the said projection throughout apredetermined angle of a cycle of rotation of one of said elementsrelative to the other of said elements about an axis common to both ofsaid elements, a reversing member for said actuating member movablesubstantially parallel to said actuating member, a lever element mountedfor pivotal movement about said axis and operatively connected atopposite sides of said axis to said actuating element and said reversingmember respectively, and means adapted to selectively engage saidactuating element or said reversing member to move said switch elementinto predetermined relation to said cam during said period ofinterconnection.

8. In a circular rib knitting machine comprising a stationary circle ofcylinder needles, 9. rotary cylinder cam ring operating said cylinderneedles, stationary wrap fingers circularly arranged above the cylinderneedles in predetermined lateral relation to each other according to apredetermined design, stationary dial needles arranged in a plane atright angles to the axis of the cylinder needle and wrap finger circleswith portions of said dial needles extending inside said circles, arotary dial cap within the wrap -5 finger circle, a swing cam carried bysaid cap for varying the stitch-forming actuations of the dial needles,and stationary means for actuating the swing cam.

9. In a circular rib knitting machine comprising a stationary circle ofcylinder needles, a rotary cylinder cam ring operating said cylinderneedles, stationary wrap fingers circularly arranged above the cylinderneedles in predetermined lateral relation to each other according to; apredetermined design, stationary dial needles arranged in a plane atright angles to the axis of the cylinder needle and wrap finger circleswith portions of said dial needles extending inside said circles, arotary dial cap within the wrap 20 finger circle, a swing cam carried bysaid cap for varying the stitch-forming actuations of the dial needles,and means intersecting the wrap finger circle for operating said swingcam.

10. In a circular rib knitting machine com- 25 prising a stationarycircle of cylinder needles,

a rotary cylinder cam ring operating said cylinder needles, stationarywrap fingers circularly arranged above the cylinder needles inpredetermined lateral relation to each other according 30 to apredetermined design, stationary dial needles arranged in a plane atright angles to the axis of the cylinder needle and wrap finger circleswith portions of said dial needles extending inside said circles, arotary dial cap within the 35 wrap finger circle, a swing cam carried bysaid cap for varying the stitch-forming actuations of the dial needles,means intersecting the wrap finger circle for operating said swing cam,and means carried by the rotary cylinder cam ringug outside the wrapfinger circle for controlling said swing cam-actuating means.

11. In a circular rib knitting machine comprising a stationary circle ofcylinder needles,

a rotary cylinder cam ringoperating said cylinder needles, stationarywrap fingers circularly arranged above the cylinder needles inpredetermined lateral relation to each other according to apredetermined design, stationary dial needles arranged in a plane atright angles to the 50 axis of the cylinder needle and wrap fingercircles with portions of said dial needles extending inside saidcircles, a rotary dial cap within the wrap finger circle, a swing camcarried by said cap for varying the stitch-forming actuations oi thedial needles, means intersecting the wrap finger circle for operatingsaid swing cam, means carried by therotary cylinder cam ring outside thewrap finger circle for controlling said swing cam-actuating means, andstationary means for manipulating said controlling means to control theactuation of the swing cam.

12. In a circular ri-b knitting machine comprising a stationary circleof cylinder needles, a rotary cylinder cam ring operating said cylinder5 needles, stationary wrap fingers circularly arranged above thecylinder needles in predetermined lateral relation to each otheraccording to a predetermined design, stationary dial needles arranged ina plane at right angles to the axis 7 of the cylinder needle and wrapfinger circles with portions of said dial needles extending inside saidcircles, a rotary dial cap within the wrap finger circle, a swing camcarried by said cap for varying the stitch-forming actuations of thedial nee- 75 and'a slide within and extending beyond the wrap fingercircle for actuating the swing cam.

13. In a circular rib knitting machine comprising a stationary circle ofcylinder needles, a r0- tary cylinder cam ring operating said cylinder-needles, stationary wrap fingers circularly arranged above the cylinderneedles in predetermined lateral relation to each other according to apredetermined design, stationary dial needles actuating the swing cam.

14. In a circular rib knitting machine comprising a stationary circle ofcylinder needles, a rotary cylinder cam ring operating said cylinderneedles, stationary wrap fingers circularly arranged above the cylinderneedles in predetermined lateral relation to each other according toaapredetermined design, stationary dial needles arranged in a plane atright angles to the axis of the cylinder needle and wrap finger circleswith portions of said dial needles extending inside said circles, arotary dial cap within the wrap finger circle, a swing cam carried bysaid cap for varying the stitch-forming actuations of the dial needles,a slide within and extending beyond the -wrap finger circle, a pin onthe swing cam operable in a channel formed in the slide for actuatingthe swing cam, and a dog on said cam ring operable outside the wrappingfinger circle for engagement with the extending portion of the .slide toadjust said slideinto a predetermined position for actuating the swingcam.

, 15. In a circular rib knitting machine comprising a stationary circleof-cylinder; needleas zmtary cylinder cam ring operating said cylinderneedles, stationary wrap fingers circularly arranged above the cylinderneedles in predetermined lateral relation to each other according to,5 apredetermined design, stationary dial needles arranged in a plane atright angles to the axis of the cylinder needle and wrap finger circleswith portions of said dial needles extending inside-said circles, arotary dial cap within the wrap finger w circle, a swing cam carried bysaid cap forvarying the stitch-forming actuations of the dial needles, aplurality of slides within thewrap finger circle for actuating saidswing cam with an-end portion of each slide extending beyond said wrap15 finger circle, and dogs on the camring respec tively engageable withthe projecting ends of said slides for regulating the relative swingcam-controlling positions of said slides.

16. In a circular rib knitting machine comprisgo ing a stationary circleof cylinder needles, arotary cylinder cam ring operating said cylinderneedles, stationary wrap fingers circularly -arranged above the cylinderneedles in predetermined lateral relation to each other according-tags apredetermined design, stationary dial needles arranged in a plane atright angles to the axis of the cylinder needle and Wrap finger circleswith portions of said dial needles extending insidesaid circles, arotary dial cap'within the wrapflngenzso circle, a swing cam carried bysaidcap forvarying the stitch-forming actuations of the dial needles, aplurality of slides within the wrap finger circle for actuating saidswing cam withan end portion of each slide extending beyond said wrap ssfinger circle, dogs on the cam ring-respectively engageable with theprojecting ends of said slides for regulating the relative swingcam-controlling positions of said slides, and a stationary bob disccontrolling the actuations of said dogs.

40 WAL'I'ER-L RKIN.

